BABY STEPS

It's Friday, and I'll be touching down in Vegas around 11:00am. First stop, check in at Harrah's. Second stop, the Rio to register for WSOP event #27, the $1,500 buyin No Limit Hold 'Em tournament. Honestly, I'm not feelin' so confident. I haven't really played competitive poker in quite some time, but I'm trying to convince myself that this will somehow work in my favor against the pros I'll see at the table. Maybe my inept fumbling at the green felt is exactly what I need to build up a monstrous stack of chips on Day 1. We'll see how it goes.

My plan going in: don't bust out like a punk in the first half hour. It's time to learn this game again. On day one, I play cards, not people. Wait for the big hand. Flop a monster. Put the chips in with the great hand and hope it stands up to a good hand. Don't donk off my stack holding one measly pair. Remember the gap concept. Play position. Don't steal blinds until they're worth stealing. Don't bluff the maniac. AQ suited is inherently evil. Baby steps.

But God help the table if I find 6-8 suited in late position.